Last Saturday, like every day since we lost Trevor, was a tough one for the Drayton family.  However, John mustered the strength to call me and pay me two great compliments.

First, he asked me to read to you today, the family’s thoughts, their reflections on Trevor’s early life, and their expressions of love for him. 

Of course, I considered that a great honour and privilege.  But reluctantly, remembering that we are often placed in the same category as snake oil salesman, I asked John whether he was sure he wanted that sensitive and important task to be undertaken by a politician.

It was that question which invited the second compliment. John’s response was – “mate, you are a good friend to the family who just happens to be a politician”.  It’s one of the nicest things he could have said.

As promised, John delivered the family’s thoughts to me yesterday.  It is my humble opinion that they have struck exactly the right tone.  It’s as if they knew exactly how Trevor would want it although I’m not certain all the stories would be exactly the same is Trevor was giving his version.

So here it is:

“Trevor James Drayton was born in Cessnock on the 18th February 1955 to Max and Caroline. It was at the time of the Maitland floods and Caroline listened to the radio reports of the Long Bridge at Maitland washing away on the day Trevor was born. Trevor was Max and Caroline’s second son and a little brother for John.  After several years Trevor became an older brother for Greg and then Peter.

Trevor spent his entire childhood living in a house on the Bellevue property just down the road from the family winery. John and Trevor shared one bedroom and Greg and Peter the other.

As a young fellow Trevor followed John around everywhere.  John couldn’t pronounce “TREVOR” so just called him FRED.   He has been Fred to the family ever since.  People had trouble understanding what Trevor said, so for many years John translated for him.

They were a larrikin pair.  Their most infamous feat was when they decided that Max’s pride and joy, his BLACK chevvy, needed a colour change.  They chose a nice WHITE colour – understandably, Max didn’t approve.  Neither Trevor or John have ever come clean as to who was the instigator of this colour change!  Maybe John can now fill us in? In any case, Greg washes his hands of the whole episode and the fact that Peter wasn’t even born at that stage has never been accepted as a legitimate alibi.

Family holidays were a special time for the Drayton clan.  Every May the family went to Port Macquarie for 2 or 3 weeks.   Max spent most of the time going off fishing with his 4 boys.  Caroline spent most of her time knitting and packing the fish away.   Trevor was a fierce competitor.  He used to load up as many sinkers as physically possible on his fishing line so he could throw out the furthest where the big fish were.  Most of the time he caught the most, or the biggest. Luckily for Trevor no bag limits existed in those days because if they had, the family would still be paying the fines today.

Only a couple of years ago Trevor and Peter went on a fishing trip to North Queensland on a boat for seven days.  There was a competition for all onboard, but after the 2nd day everybody conceded – Trevor was just unbeatable – he had caught every variety and the biggest fish.  Nothing was a too big a challenge for Trevor. He had a great time and regularly talked (or rather boasted) about that trip. Maybe the times that he and John fished on the coal heap at the family home helped his fishing skills.

Brother Greg is finally leaning towards forgiving Trevor for pushing him in the water at the Port Macquarie Co-Op when Greg was only 3 years old. Trevor could always find something to laugh about in any situation. On this occasion he was in fits of laughter at the sight of Caroline’s shoes floating away as she dived in the water to rescue Greg.

Trevor wasn’t laughing though when he fell in the creek near the family home. John and Trevor had rushed down to meet Max who was returning from the vineyard for lunch. As they crossed the bridge, Trevor was “gawking around”, according to his Mum, and fell in. Luckily Max was quickly on the scene and dragged him spluttering and crying from the creek. John did NOT push him in.

In those days bread was delivered three times a week to the front gate 300 metres from the house. It was un-sliced and un-wrapped. Trevor and John would go to collect it to help their Mum. By the time they returned to the house there wasn’t much bread left.  They would just nibble a corner and then remove the insides leaving nothing but a hard shell.

Trevor went to Pokolbin Public School.  His achievements there were limited with the exception of the day he won the Easter Bonnet Parade having walked around most of the day with his pet chook Bessie sitting on top of his head.

Trevor’s secondary schooling was at Cessnock High School followed by 5 years of Tertiary Study at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia. Trevor topped the second year of his course and won a silver medal, topped the third year and won a gold medal, topped his final year and was awarded Dux of the course.

While Trevor never settled down and married he was the proud uncle of ten nieces and nephews. They were amazed by his ability and constant habit of chewing and crushing ice with his teeth. It also took them many years to realise that their bottom wouldn’t fall off if there belly button became loose.

Watching Trevor eat dessert was always a source of entertainment – he would take a spoonful of dessert and then turn the spoon upside down as it entered his mouth.

John and Greg wish to acknowledge the role that Trevor played alongside them in Drayton’s Family Wines under the leadership of their father Max. Peter acknowledges Trevor’s financial support as a silent partner in Drayton Construction, Peter’s building company.

Trevor was a great support for his Mum and Dad.  While he moved into his own house a few years ago, he still called in to see them on a daily basis.

Trevor was a loving son, a generous brother, a favourite uncle, a great and loyal friend, an industry leader, and an all round great fellow. Trevor will leave a void in our lives and hearts that can never be replaced”.

Caroline, Max, John, Greg, Peter and families, I again extend my most sincere condolences.  Earlier this week I told the Prime Minister that I’d be making a contribution today and he asked me to extend his sympathy.  We talked about Trevor’s contribution to the wine and tourism industries and through them, the nation. The PM understood and appreciated it, and wanted the family to know that.

Finally, today I can say there has been some good news this past week.  Yesterday, virtually on the eve of Australia Day, Abesi became a permanent resident of our great country.  We look forward to her becoming a permanent part of our community.

Trevor, farewell mate, you’ll be missed so very much by so many.